This Alameda County Disaster Waste Management Plan (Disaster Plan) is an important resource document to be used when responding to solid waste management issues related to disasters. These disasters could include earthquakes, fires, floods, accidents, or civil unrest, all of which have the potential to generate large amounts of debris. Most disaster debris management activities are implemented at the local level. This Disaster Plan presents methods by which disaster debris management can be coordinated countywide in order to achieve maximum diversion from landfilling.
The purpose of the Alameda County Disaster Plan is to develop a coordinated, countywide approach for managing disaster-related debris generated in Alameda County. By planning ahead, disaster-related waste can be managed in the most environmentally sound manner possible, maximizing source reduction and recycling options and minimizing the land disposal of this material.
This Disaster Plan is an outgrowth of the Authority’s Countywide Integrated Waste
Management Plan (CoIWMP), which established a policy for promoting contingency plans for materials recovery facilities and compost facilities within Alameda County. To implement this policy, the Authority directed its staff to prepare this Disaster Plan.
Section 1 -- Introduction. This part describes the overall structure, goal and objectives of the plan.
Section 2 -- Potential Disaster Scenarios. This section discusses the types of disasters that may be faced by communities in Alameda County and the types of debris these disaster may generate.
Section 3 -- Local Resource Inventory . This section identifies the agencies, organizations, and businesses that may be available to assist in disaster recovery efforts.
Section 4 -- Local Issues. Local issues, such as existing policies, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, or franchise agreements may affect disaster debris recovery efforts. These issues are discussed in this section.

Section 5 -- Siting Criteria. After a disaster, it may be necessary to establish temporary or long-term sites for debris storage, processing, or transfer. This section identifies the criteria that should be considered when selecting these sites.
Section 6 -- Sample Documents. This section provides jurisdictions with sample language for resolutions, ordinances, or contracts that would assist in the diversion of disaster debris.
Section 7 -- Education and Public Information. This section outlines the plan for developing a coordinated, countywide education and public information program.
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Section 8 -- Training and Workshops. The needs for pre-disaster training and information sharing sessions for the parties involved with disaster debris removal (e.g.
emergency coordinators, public works departments, recycling coordinators, haulers, processors, landfills, etc.) are discussed in this section.
Section 9 -- Funding and Associated Requirements. This section identifies the basic accounting and record keeping requirements needed for jurisdictions to qualify for reimbursement by state or federal emergency funds for disaster debris diversion.
A brief discussion of the various types of disasters, along with a description of the debris associated with each is provided below.

Earthquakes
Disaster Potential. Alameda County is in a seismically active area. Several active and potentially active fault systems have been mapped within the county boundaries, and other major fault systems (e.g. the San Andreas) are nearby. Ground rupture, shaking, or failure
(e.g. liquefaction, landsliding, or lurch cracking) associated with earthquake faults can cause damage to personal property and public facilities. In addition, secondary damage from fires and explosions could result from disruption of utility systems. Damage to key transportation corridors, such as Interstates 580 and 680, could be extensive in the event of a major earthquake due to surface rupture, landsliding, or subsidence.
Types and Quantities of Debris Generated. Post-earthquake debris composition evolves with time. Initially, the focus will be on removing debris from the streets to allow access. If this material is from damaged structures, it is likely to contain personal belongings, valuables, and mementos. OES advises that victim reclamation of their personal property should be accommodated as a priority. For damaged structures that are still habitable, residents and businesses will usually begin soon after the main shock to cleanup broken glass and ceramics, spilled foods and liquids, and broken furniture and appliances. Later, demolition material
(including concrete, asphalt, bricks, gypsum wallboard, metal, and soil) comprises the majority of the disaster-related waste stream. Household and other hazardous wastes may be mixed with any earthquake-related debris. The cleanup process can be quite lengthy, and disaster debris can still be generated months, or even years, after the event. Residents and businesses must often negotiate with insurance carriers, FEMA, or the Small Business
Administration before beginning the demolition and rebuilding efforts. The quantity of debris that will be generated by a major earthquake affecting the urbanized areas of Alameda County is estimated to be quite large (on the order of millions of tons). A substantial number of structures within the County were built before local building codes required earthquake bracing. Of these, small wooden structures might experience falling chimneys, breaking glass, falling furniture, and cracked or falling plaster, rather than full-scale destruction. Unreinforced brick, stone, or block buildings (common in the older, urbanized areas of Berkeley, Oakland, and Alameda) are considered the most damage prone. Light steel frame and glass buildings with reinforced concrete roofs could suffer severe damage or collapse due to weak connections. The principal effects of a major earthquake on the streets and highways system would include localized earth failures due to surface rupture, landslide, or subsidence, which

could cause bridge or elevated structure collapse or damage. This structural damage would generate significant quantities of demolition material, and may impede access to existing landfills, transfer stations, and material recovery facilities.
Fires
Disaster Potential. Developed areas of Alameda County are susceptible to urban fires and undeveloped and urban fringe areas are susceptible to wildfires. Following an earthquake, urban areas may be even more susceptible to fires due to damaged gas and water lines and disrupted transportation routes, which restrict emergency vehicle access.
Types and Quantities of Debris Generated. Urban fires leave ash; charred lumber, wood, and vegetation; smoke damaged furniture; metal from burned vehicles or structures; bricks; concrete; soil; and foundations. Wildfires can also destroy structures, resulting in a similar waste stream. The State Office of Emergency Services estimated that approximately 1,600 acres and over 3,300 structures were destroyed in the October 1992 Oakland Firestorm. A subsequent study indicated that cleanup efforts from this fire resulted in the collection of over
90,000 tons of debris material. Of this, approximately 30,000 tons were handled as potentially recyclable, which consisted of (by weight) 42% concrete, 21% wood, 37% metal. In addition,
2,000 burned automobiles averaging 1 ton each were recycled, and more than 700 trees were removed, chipped, and sold as fuel.
Floods
Disaster Potential. Flood hazards in Alameda County can be grouped according to three main causes:
1.
Resulting from excessive runoff
2.
Resulting from dam and/or reservoir failure
3.
Resulting from tsunamis (seismic sea waves)
Excessive runoff flooding has largely been eliminated in the urban areas of the County through flood control projects. There are 29 dams in Alameda County. Most of the combined impounded water is contained by the four largest dams. Failure of one dam with enhance the overflow of the reservoir of other dams.
Tsunamis are long water waves generated by sudden displacement under water, commonly associated with earthquake movement along a submerged fault. The United States Geological
Survey has estimated that San Francisco Bay will experience a 20-foot high tsunami at a frequency of every 200 years. The wave height would be reduced by half by the time it

reaches the Albany/Berkeley shoreline and would decrease further as it travels south. All cities in Alameda County that front the Bay would be subject to some level of inundation from a tsunami of this magnitude.
Types and Quantities of Debris Generated. Flooding causes damage to structures and personal belongings, and can generate large volumes of downed vegetation, mud and soil, household debris (e.g. appliances; furniture; rugs, carpet, and padding; and HHW), sandbags, plastic sheeting, and demolition debris.
Civil Unrest
Disaster Potential. Any populated area may be susceptible to civil unrest.
Types of Debris Generated. Civil unrest can result in property damage from fires or looting.
Ash and demolition debris, along with damaged personal belongings are typical waste streams.
In summary, the plan encompasses different types of disasters, and focuses on the possible types of waste generated by the disasters. The plan also provides a detailed names of the organizations responsible for the waste management and provides an inventory of their resources which can be used during the disasters.